 "France’s new prime minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned Monday, less than 24 hours after naming his government and after less than a month in office, plunging the country into a deep political crisis. The French presidency said in a statement Monday that President Emmanuel Macron has accepted his resignation. Image: AP video by Alexander Turnbull")
Emmanuel Macron, the President of France and self-declared ‘master of the clocks’, is under siege from all sides. His latest prime minister was ousted after just 27 days in office, becoming the fourth to exit in less than a year.
More worryingly, Macron now finds himself in an untenable situation: the far left is calling for his resignation, the far right is demanding snap elections, and the mainstream left and right remain unable to reach any consensus.
So, what exactly is the unprecedented crisis confronting the Fifth Republic?
A 14-Hour Government Collapse
France’s political quagmire deepened when Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned on Monday, October 6—less than 14 hours after naming his new cabinet and just 27 days after taking office. This made him the shortest-serving prime minister in modern French history.
His government fell apart before it could even begin, with newly appointed ministers booted from office before they could settle in. Lecornu came under immediate pressure after announcing a minority government that retained most key incumbents. Opposition parties swiftly threatened a no-confidence motion, and even his centrist coalition allies hinted they might withdraw support.
Seeing the writing on the wall, Lecornu chose to resign rather than be forced out.
48 + 48
48 Hours of Political Maneuvering: On Wednesday, October 8, the office of President Macron announced that a new prime minister would be named within 48 hours—Macron’s latest attempt to navigate through the worst political crisis of his presidency.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe 48 Hours Before That: This announcement followed intense discussions led by Lecornu with various political parties over the prior two days. Based on these consultations, Macron concluded that there was no majority in favour of dissolving Parliament for early elections and that a “platform for stability” might exist—at least enough to pass a national budget by year-end.
Existential Crisis
As I write this, France finds itself in yet another round of existential political uncertainty. Even if Macron appoints a new prime minister, no one knows who that will be, who the cabinet members will be, or how long they will last.
It remains entirely unclear whether Macron will reappoint Lecornu, name a replacement, call for snap elections—or even resign himself.
Commotion, Confusion, and Chaos
In modern French history, there has never been a Parliament without a dominant party. While previous periods such as 1986–88, 1993–95, and 1997–2002 saw presidents and prime ministers from opposing parties, the current political disorder is unprecedented.
Here are a few examples of the cacophony:
Eric Ciotti, whose party is aligned with Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, declared Lecornu “discredited” and warned that “organised chaos will never be a path for France”.
Mathilde Panot and Jean-Luc Mélenchon from the far-left France Unbowed demanded Macron’s resignation, saying France “has no time to waste”.
The Socialists and Greens have called for the appointment of a left-wing prime minister.
Aurélien Rousseau of the Place Publique party described Lecornu’s resignation as “dignified and clear,” adding, “Compromise is a team sport”.
No Longer Master of the Clocks
The irony is glaring. Macron—who once proudly called himself “the master of clocks”, suggesting complete control over political timing—is now facing pressure from all directions, including within his own alliance.
His grip over France’s political, strategic, and economic agenda has loosened. His credibility and authority are in free fall.
Despair at the Circus
The prevailing chaos was aptly captured by Macron loyalist and outgoing ecology minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher, who posted:
“Like many of you, I despair of this circus where everyone plays their role but no one takes responsibility.”
It’s not far-fetched to say that France is teetering on the edge of being ungovernable. But how did it spiral so fast?
The answer lies in France’s political system—and the results of the July 2024 snap elections.
False Hope
Macron’s decision to call early legislative elections in 2024 backfired. Instead of securing a mandate, the elections delivered a hung Parliament. The left and right surged while the center collapsed.
Macron clung to the hope that his centrist bloc could govern through alliances in the National Assembly—but it quickly became clear this was wishful thinking.
The Calculus
The July 2024 snap elections produced a deeply fragmented National Assembly:
Left-wing New Popular Front: 188 seats
Macron’s centrist alliance: 161 seats
Far-right National Rally (RN) and allies: 142 seats
With 289 seats needed for a majority, the result was legislative paralysis—three major blocs, none capable of governing alone.
The Revolving Door
The post of prime minister has become a revolving door. Lecornu, who took office on September 9 after François Bayrou resigned, lasted just 27 days—the shortest term since the Fifth Republic began in 1958. He was the fifth prime minister since 2022, and the third since Macron’s snap election in 2024.
The French Problem
Unlike Germany or the Netherlands, France has no strong tradition of coalition governance. Macron’s opponents—particularly on the far left and right—refuse to cooperate. In fact, despite their ideological differences, they’ve repeatedly united to bring down Macron’s minority governments.
They made it clear Lecornu would be next. He read the signal and stepped down.
Record Low
Macron is expected to stay in office until April 2027, but his support is crumbling. A recent opinion poll shows his trust rating has plunged to a record-low 14 per cent amid economic unrest, political chaos, and mass protests.
This marks a 3-point drop in one month, 7 points in two months, and a total fall of 13 points since March 2025—matching the unpopularity record of former President François Hollande in 2016.
At this rate, Macron’s own days in office may be numbered.
The Anger
Public anger has been growing since Macron introduced unpopular fuel taxes in 2018 (later scrapped under protest). In 2023, his pension reform raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 triggered another wave of mass demonstrations.
His refusal to backtrack hardened the resentment. Issues like immigration and France’s role in the EU continue to provoke public outrage.
Far Right on the Rise
In this leadership vacuum, the far right is gaining momentum. According to polls:
Jordan Bardella has 39 per cent support
Marine Le Pen follows with 35 per cent
This reflects the growing potency of anti-establishment politics and the collapse of traditional authority.
Analysts argue Macron’s downfall is rooted in structural contradictions: governing without a parliamentary base, enacting socially divisive policies, and failing to connect with public sentiment. With markets nervous, growth forecasts weak, and national debt at 116 per cent of GDP, the presidency faces a defining test.
Path Forward?
The Fifth Republic, designed in 1958 to ensure executive strength and stability, is now fractured. Its very foundations are shaking.
For decades, France relied on a predictable left-right alternation of power. That model is broken. Voters are turning to the extremes.
After two years of fragile governance, opposition resistance, and rising far-right appeal—especially among Gen Z—the question remains: what’s next?
Will it be electoral reform, another snap election, Macron’s resignation, or an entirely new political system?
France is approaching a reckoning.
Many now assume the far right will eventually govern—if not now, then after the 2027 presidential election. Few, however, believe this would resolve the underlying crisis.
Charles de Gaulle’s Fifth Republic once survived assassination attempts (including those against de Gaulle himself), the Algerian War, and the upheavals of May 1968. But today, France is not just bored—it is frustrated, angry, and distrustful of its elite. The country is trapped between a system that has collapsed and a future that remains a black hole.
Whither France? Only time will tell.
The author is a multi-disciplinary thought leader with Action Bias and an India based impact consultant. He is a keen watcher of changing national and international scenarios. He works as President Advisory Services of Consulting Company BARSYL. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.